Patriots sign former Eagles Chung

Friday

Apr 4, 2014 at 12:01 AM

Let's try this again.

TIM WHELAN JR.

Let's try this again.

One year after leaving New England for pastures tinted an Eagles shade of green, Patrick Chung took the long way back to Foxboro as he re-signed with the Patriots on Thursday. Terms of the deal were not announced.

"I'm glad to be back," Chung said on a conference call Thursday. "It's like family here. It feels like home. I'm glad to be back. I love the fans, love the coaches, love the environment, love the city. It was like a blessing."

The Patriots drafted Chung in the second round (34th overall) of the 2009 NFL Draft. And while his four years with the Patriots included two AFC Championship games and a Super Bowl appearance, his time was also marked by both injuries and inconsistency. A bright start gave way to an inglorious finish.

In all with the Patriots, he played in 50 games with 30 starts, amassing 235 tackles, seven interceptions, and 19 passes defensed.

His career night came on Oct. 4, 2010, when he blocked a punt, blocked a field goal, and returned an interception for a TD in a Monday night win at Miami. He finished that season with a career-best 89 total tackles.

His play regressed, however. By the end of the 2012 season, Chung was not an integral part of the Patriots' safety rotation, notching just one assist on a tackle in the team's two postseason games.

The Patriots let the 5-foot-11, 210-pounder walk in free agency, and he got a three-year, $10 million deal with Philadelphia.

Where Chung fits in is unclear, especially seeing as his playing time steadily dropped in his four years with New England.

His play in Philadelphia didn't help matters. Despite making 56 tackles with three passes defensed and a fumble recovery while starting 10 of his 12 games with Philadelphia, he was not welcomed back to the City of Brotherly Love. According to Pro Football Focus, quarterbacks had a 124.7 passer rating against Chung.

The Eagles released Chung on March 11.

"I can't really tell you why things didn't work out in Philly," Chung said. "I don't make those decisions. You know, Philly is a great city, there are a lot of great people there; great locker room, great coaches. But I feel now that this has happened, I feel like it's a better fit here."

Not that he saw himself ending up back where his professional career began, at least not upon his release.

"I had no clue," he said. "I got released. I just started training so I was prepared for an opportunity when an opportunity presented itself. I got the call and I was excited. I was happy. I was relieved. It was very, very, very easy decision. It didn't really take much. I had no idea where I was going, what the plan was for me. But we figured something out and I'm happy it all worked out."

Chung joins a secondary that will not be altogether familiar to the one he left following the 2012 season. Gone are both cornerback Aqib Talib, who signed a lucrative deal with the Broncos, and safety Steve Gregory, who was released Feb. 28.

The most marquee of defensive free agents, Darrelle Revis, is now aboard, as is former Seahawks cornerback Brandon Browner. Cornerback Logan Ryan is entering his second year, as is safety Duron Harmon. Both showed their fair share of promise in 2013, and don't look to be going anywhere anytime soon.

Veteran safety Adrian Wilson, who was placed on IR at the end of training camp, could also figure into the depth chart, as could Tavon Wilson, Nate Ebner and Kanorris Davis.

Chung's playing time is a conversation for the coming months. For now, he is appreciating the chance to boomerang back to familiar environs.

"Whatever Bill (Belichick) need me to do, this team, I'm going to do it," he said. "Regardless if it's special team or it's defense, whatever my role is here, I'm OK with that. This is where I want to be, so that's good for me."

Tim Whelan Jr. can be reached at twhelan@wickedlocal.com. Follow him on Twitter @thattimwhelan.

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